Building structure



March 26, 1946. G. w. GILLELAND 2,397,345

BUILDING STRUCTURE I (Y Filed Feb. 15, 1942 v 2 Sheets-Sheet I AT1-aimais MarchA 26', 1946. Gfw.- GuLLELAND l 2,397,345 BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Feb. l5, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .,f INVENTCR u @www aff/mnd j BY W M V MQW/Mw 4s 50 53 74 95/ 725.5 `65 '52 24 ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 26, 1946 UNITED STATESr PATENT OFFICE 2,397,345 BUILDINGas'rnUo'rURnv Grover W. Gilleland, Steamboat Springs, Colo.

Application February 15, 1943, Serial No. 475,891

1 claim. `(o1. 20-4) l v This invention relates to a building Structure and more particularly to a building embodying a new type of air sealing means,

It is an object of this invention to provide wall forming units, whether vertical, horizontal, or inclined, which embody therein air sealing means.`

More particularly this invention embodies an air sealing means in a wall structure employing a plurality of substantially parallel spaced apart air sealing panels which are sealed to the boundary members of the "wall forming unit.`

It is a further object of this invention to provide air sealing means between adjoining wall fio forming units such as between a floor unit and `t a side wall unit.

It is a further object of thisI .invention to pro vide air sealing means between a foundation member and a iioor unit supported thereon.

It is a further object of this invention to prof vide air sealing means between a ceiling forming unit and a gable forming and roof forming units.

t is a further object of the invention to provide sealing between a gable unit and a roof forming unit and between two different roof forming units or members.

It is an object of this invention to provide sealing means which provide for air sealing and at fao vthe same time: sound proofing, moisture proofing, germ proofing, i. e., prevention of the entrance of-germs, and gas proofing.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a building structure which lends itself toprefabrication at a factory so that various wall formstory dwelling house but -it will be understood "4'5 that the invention may be embodied in substantially any building construction.

' All wall forming units embodied in this construction, whether upright such as side wall and partition units, or horizontal such as iioor and ceiling units, or inclined such as roof units, are air sealed by the provision therein'of a plurality of spaced apart substantially parellel air sealing panels and the term wall as hereinafter used in structure whether the same is upright, horizontal or inclined.

The above mentioned general objects of my invention, together with others inherent in the same, are attained by the mechanism illustrated in the following drawings, the same being preferred exemplary forms of embodiment of my invention, throughout which drawings' like reference numerals indicate like parts:

Figure l is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, with parts in elevation, showing a portion of a building constructed in accordance With my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section, with parts in elevation, showing parts of the gable construction of thisbuilding;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section, with parts in elevation showing partition construction at the location of floors and ceilings;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, with parts in elevation, taken substantially on broken line 4-4 of Fig..1 and showing roof, gable, attic and ceiling construction;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, with parts in plan, showing a typical corner structure and a partition structure together with door frame and window frame means;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view partly in plan and partly in sectiontaken substantially on broken line B-6 of Fig. 1, showing an arrangement of the floor joists and headers and plates;

Fig. '7 is a detached, explodedtop plan view showing a corner post construction;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on broken line 8--8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary exploded View partly in cross section and partlyin elevation on a larger scale than the other views showing typical key membersand tonguesand panels seated in sealing material and providing an air seal between structural members;v Y

Fig. 10 is a, fragmentary exploded perspective view showing floor joist and vheader construction; A

Fig. 1'1 is a detached fragmentary plan view with parts in section' showing a'corner construction; y

Fig, 12 is a fragmentarydetached perspective View of the end portion of a header shown in Figs. 6 and 11;

Fig. 13 is a detached sectional View of an up- I right wall frame member to be used in partition walls at locations where partition Walls radiate in four directions;

the .Specification and claim refers to the Wall 55 Fig. 14 is a fragmentarydetached elevation,

with parts broken away, showing two corners of a window frame having air sealing means provided therein;

Fig. is a detached cross sectional view through the frame of an opening, as the sill portion of a window frame, showing air sealing means therein;p and Fig. 16 is a fragmentary sectional View showing air circulation and water diverting means embodied in the sealed roof unit of .the building between the shingles 4and the sealed 'portion of the roof section.

In accordance with this invention, wall, parti-l tion, gable and roof units to be used in the con'- struction of the building may be partially fabricated in a factory or construction plant and then moved to the site of the building for assembly. The floor and ceiling units may be yprefabricated or they may be put together in the processofV erecting the building. Interior and exterior `iin Aishing is done lin .the usual manner. Y

In a two story building, as shown inl, the following is .the preferable order in assembling the several units on .a previously laid foundation: rst a plate is .laid on -and sealed to the foundation; next a prefabricated lower 1floorunit is laid,

or this unit is positioned on the foundation; then the prefabricated wall'andipartition units yof the lower story are positioned; then a prefabricated second story oor unit, which also forms the ceiling of the first story rooms, is properly positioned .on the upstanding walls and partitions, or this unit is assembled on the job; then 'the prefabri'cated wall and partition units of the-sec-V ond story are positioned on .the secondstory floor;

then a prefabricated ceiling unit of the second story -is positioned, Vor this unit 'is assembled on y the job; and then vthe .prefabricatedgable units and the prefabricated roof` sections are positioned in the order mentioned.

Preferably the outer walls, .such as sheeting and siding, Athe inner walls .suchas .plaster .board and plaster, the floors, trim :and roof covering,

Vsuch as sheetingand shingles,V areapplied after vthe prefabricated fframe units Iare assembled'.

' In the Vfollowing description' the above men'- tioned unitswilLas far aspossible, be .described in the .order in lwhich rthey :are assembled.

' A foun'datiori` 20,1Figs. 1 rand 6, will'first beprovided and afoundation plate 2|,v commonly called a mud sill, laid on and preferablybolte'dto said foundation,as .by bolts I9. A key type sealing member 24, positioned` in: suitable :grooves lin "the plate ormud sill 2l andlfoundation 20 and laid in sealing vmaterial 25,.seeFig.\9,is provided be- .tweenthe plate'2l and foundation 2l) to air seal the basement portionvofthe'house. 'Thevsealing material may be a waterproof glue, as a synthetic resin glue,'andmayl help to secure theplate 2l to the foundation 120.

Floor unit The preabricated `floor unitwhich is adapted Y lating material 3G.

portions ofthe iioor joists 2t.

vin all tongue and groove connections 35.

the tongue vand groove connections herein are lower right in Fig. 1, and at both the right and bottom of Fig. 6.

Spaced apart sheets or panels 29 of -air sealing material, such as plywood, have their edges positioned in the grooves 28 and form spaced apart air sealing partitions between the floor joists 25 and headers 2 and box sills 21. The edges of the sheets or panels 29 are sealed within the grooves '23 by suitable sealing material '25, as shown in Fig. 9, so that no air can ypass around these edges andpreferably the spaces between the sheets or panels 2g are lled with heat insu- The sealing material 25 may be bituminous material or a waterproof glue, as a synthetic resin glue.. i

Theend portions of the oor joists rest within grooves 34 in lower iloor joist plate members 22, see Figs. l and .9; and these parts are preferably adhesively connected. The lower oor joist plate members 22 are adapted to be positioned on the foundation plate members 2l, or mud sills, when the housevis assembled. Said plate members 2| and 22,r see Fig. 9, are provided 4with registering grooves 23 within which is disposed a key type sealing member 24, which is preferably formed of wood. Y

The key type sealing member 24, shown in Fig. 9, isa typical example of key type sealing members set in sealing material such as synthetic resin glue and used in many places vthroughout this structure. These key type sealing-members, although varying somewhat in shape and size, are all designated by the numeral `265. These key type sealing members 24 are, inail instances, set in the sealing material 25.

An upper floor joist plate member '3l is posi- .tioned within A:notches 3,2, one of which is provided near the end and inthe upper edge portion vof each floor joist 26 and each platemember 3i has grooveseS that fit over .the notched portions ofsaidfloor joists.. One notch 32 and one groove 33 are shown in Fig. 9. The headers 2l that help -tc support the plates 3l have similar notches 18,

as shown at the lower portion of Fig. 6.

'The marginal floor joists or box sills 2 that extend crosswise of the end portions of the 'floor joists 26 have grooves 34 that receive the end Also said box sill members2lhave tongue and groove connections 35 with both of the plates 22 and 3|. Sealing material 25 such as synthetic resin glue is used All of similar and are designated by the numeral 35 throughout the drawings and description. Sealing material 25 iszalso used in allinstances herein `whereparts of thisstructure are received within grooves or'mortise cavities in otherparts. VThis provides'a verystrong structure and Veconomizes on the use of nails.

The headermembers'Zl, Figs. 6 and 10, have tenons 3&5 thereonk that are' adapted to lit into .mortise' cavities 3l in the iloor joists 26 andbox -sills .2'1y and are adhesively secured in said cavities.

Diagonal corner headers 38 are provided in the floor units, see Figs..6, 11 and .12, forthepurpose of supporting the upper oor joistplatemembers Slwhere said plate .membersi are vjoined to` .gether along .diagonal lines 3Q at the corners of the structure.

The diagonal corner headers have theirtop edges `provided with notchesd near their outer. ends to receive theplate members 3| and also havetenonsl `on their outer .end portionsthatfit into notches 42 inthe marasevgsu ginal floor joists or box sills 21, see Fig. 1v1. The inner end portions of the diagonal corner headers 38 are positioned in suitably shaped mortise cavities 43 that are formed in the floor joists 26 and headers 21`at the location where 'said vfloor 'joists and headers intersect, see Fig. 6.

If it is desired to nail the plate member 22 to the plate member or mud sill 2| then the end section of panels 29 and the parts 21 and 3| shown in Fig. 1 may be left off at the time the floor unit is prefabricated and applied after the floor is placed on the foundation and the plate 2,2 nailed to the mud sill 2 Preferably after the prefabricated portions of the house have been erected the usual flooring 44 is laid on the floor joists 2B and headers 21. The-marginal portions of this flooring rest on the edge portions or shoulders 15 of the plate members 3 I, as shown in Fig. 1.

Side wall and partition units Cil The side wall units each comprise a plurality Y of upright spaced apart parallel studding members 45 extending between a lower studding plate 46 and an upper studding plate 41 and having transverse headers 48 provided therebetween at suitable intervals.

Corner post members 49, see Figs. 5, 7, and 8, having diagonal faces 5G, are provided at the ends of each side wall unit. Window frame members 5|, ee Figs. 5, 14 and 15, and door frame members 52 are provided wherever desired in the side wall units.

The window and door frame members, Figs. 5 and 14, each comprise marginal frame members 80 extending around the openings, and facing members 8| positioned adjacent to the frame members 80. Usually the facing members 8| are spaced as respects the frame members 88 and an opening 83 is left therebetween. Trim members 82 are positioned in overlapped relation to the edge portions of the frame members 80 `and facing members 8|. A key type sealing member 24 is disposed within suitable grooves (the position of the grooves being such to properly. locate facing 8|) between each frame member 80 and the adjacent trim member 82 and between each facing member 8| and the adjacentetrim member 82. 'I'his provides an e'iiicient air seal on each side of the opening 83. At the bottom of a window, Fig. l5, the facing member is in the form of a window sill 84 and a key type air sealing member 24 is provided between this sill 84 and the adjacent frame member 89. The seal at the bottom of a door is similarly formed as respects the usual door sill. In Fig. 14'the dotted lines show the manner in which the key type sealing members 24 join at the corners of a window or door frame to avoid leaving any openings at these corners.

Spaced apart parallel air sealed panels 29 are provided between the studding 45, plates 46 and 41, headers 48, corner posts 49 and window and door frame members 5| and 52 in the same manner as hereinbefore explained in connection with. the floor unit. All edge portions of these panels 29 are embedded in and sealed in the frame members with which they make contact to provide complete air sealing and leave closed and sealed air spaces between the sheets 29, which closed and sealed air spaces are preferably filledl with heat insulating material 38 to prevent air circulation.

The headers 48 form air stops to check movement of the air and also form re stops in compliance with the usual building codes.

In all instances the air sealed panels 29 are positioned inwardly from the planes of the faces of the `frame members by which they are surrounded. This provides air spaces 14 between the panels 29 and any wall surface forming members, such as sheeting, plaster board and plaster, flooring or roofing that are attached to the edge portions of the frame members. These spaces 14 are not air sealed. The space 14 between the panels 29 and either the wall surfacing, such as outside sheeting and siding or inside plaster board and plaster, is available for the reception of wiring, plumbing, heating conduits and the like. Usually the inside space 14 will be used for these purposes. Wall and the positioning of the panels 29 in the wall unit may be varied to provide the desired space for any installations to be made in the wall.

The diagonal faces 50 of the corner-post menibers 49 are provided with suitable grooves 58 for key type sealing members 24, preferably disposed at right angles to the inclined faces, see Figs. 5 and '1. This provides a structure which will permit the two walls to be readily moved into their correct positions relative to each other in assem bling the house. Bolts 53 lare used to secure each pair of corner posts 49 together. Each end of each corner post 49 is provided with tongues 54, see Figs. 7 and 8, that are adapted to fit within the grooves 28 which are provided in the plate members 48 and 41 to receive the panels 29. The panels 29 fit closely against the ends of the tongues 54 to maintain the air seal at these locations.

A key type sealing member 24 is provided between the lower studding plate 46 and the upper floor joist plate 3| of the previously described rst floor unit and a similar key type sealing member 24 is provided between the top studding plate 41 and a hereinafter described joist plate 58 above it.

The end portions of the studding 45 are disposed in suitable transverse grooves 54' in the studding plates 46 and 41 as shown in Fig. l. In all instances the studding plates 46 and 41 are of less width than the joist plates against which they abut. This allows portions of the joist plates to overhang the studding plates and form shoulders 15 which receive and support the edge portions of oor means and ceiling means as hereinafter described.

At locations where partitions are to join the walls upright studding members 55 of T shaped cross section are provided, as shown in Fig. 5. Each partition is preferably prefabricated independently and attached to walls ory other partitions when it is erected on the job. The structure of the partitions is substantially the same as the structure of the outside walls in that the three spaced apart parallel panels 29 with heat insulating material 38 between said panels are used. The means for connecting the partitions tothe ceiling above involves the use of a T shaped plate 6| in the ceiling. The means for connecting the partitions to the ceiling above involves the use of a T shaped plate 6| in the ceiling. The means for connecting the partitions with the lower floor is the same as that used in'connection with the upper floor, as shown in Fig. 3 and hereinafter described. Members 55 of T shaped cross section are also provided in partitions to which other partitions are to be attached.

Fig. 13 shows an upright wall studding member 53 having a cross sectional shape similar to a cross and' adapted .to be used in partitions Where four walls radiate from one location.

It is obvious that the thickness of the` ,Ceilingfioor Lumt The unit which cooperates .informing .the ceiling for the first story and the i'loorfor the second story comprises floor vjoists y51 connected ,with lower joist plates 58, upperjoistplates 59 rand marginal floor joists or box sills'v 6B. The parts 51, 53, 59 and 6i! are vsomewhat similar to the corresponding parts 2B, 22, 3l, and 21"res'pe`ct ive ly in the lower floor and are assembled in asimimembers 24 and tongue'and groove connections 35. Also similar spaced apart parallel air sealing walls or panels 29 are provided in this unit. `It is to be noted that the lower joist plate 58 differs from joist plate 22 in that it is set into a notch 58.in the joist 51 and is ush with said joist 51 and provides a shoulder to which a surface, as plaster board, may be attached. At the location where partitions are to be connected with this ceiling-floor unit, I provide T shaped upright membersl and62 spaced apart andsupported by a header member 63, the edges of the headers 33 being set into groves B4' in the T shaped members 6| and 62 and also having tongue and groove connections withl these members. Other headers corresponding to the headers 21 of Fig. 6 are preferably provided at suitable intervals between the joists 51. The T shaped member 62 is preferably somewhat larger in cross section than the T shaped member 6| tofacilitate connection therewith of floor` means, as hereinafter described;

Upper story wall units used in place of the joist plate159. Thisjoist plate 'til has a groove 65 in its topside for the reception of a tongue 66 of a rafterfplate 6,1,hereinafter described. e

` Gable units The gable units, shown in Figs. 1, Zand 4, comprise gable studding1vhavin'g a lower-gable stud- `ding plate 11 and an upper gable studding plate l13--the plate 18r being inclined toconiorm to the 11 rests on a joist plate 19 of the'ceiling unit, as shown in Fig. 4. The upper gable studding plate i8 has` the Vcross sectional shape shown in-Fig. 4 and is adapted to cooperate inthe supportl'of a roof as hereinafter explained. The gable unit-is provided with the spaced apart-parallel air'sealing panels 29 and said gable unit-has headers between the studding 16 wherevthelength of -the studding requires. we

Roof units Y The roofunits comprise rafters 68, and 68', Figs. l, 2 andVV 4, having headers 69 extending crosswise therebetween. VAir sealpanels 29 having heat insulating materialfllftherebetween are provided between the rafters (iS-.andJB andthe headers t9. The. rafter yplate.li1 has transverse notches1 to receive'therafters ,6,8 and 68'. YThe rafters 68 and 68 are'providedwithra.shoulder 1l against which the rafter plate rests. The raftaxiomes lar manner and have similar key type'rsealing "w slope of Va roof. The lower gable studding plate ers 68' are end rafters and .rest on the upper lgable studding'plates 18, .se'e Fig. .4, and are air sealed as respects rthe plates 18 -by tongue and groove means 35. The end rafters 68 are shown 4in Figs. l, 2 .and 4 and one of the intermediate rafters 68 is shown'in Fig. 4.

Header members 12 of special construction are provided between the rafters 6B above the rafter `plate 61. The lower edge portions of the header .members 12 have tongue and groove connection @i5-with the rafterplate 61 and the upper edge portions of said header members have tongue and groove connection with roof sheeting that is secured to the rafters preferably after the roof units are placed on the house. The end portions Yof header members 12 adjacent the gables are notched, as shown in Fig. 4, and rest within corresponding notches in shelf portions 86 that are provided on the uppergable studding plates 18.

The ridge board portion of each roof unit is provided with a ridge board. The two ridge boards are positioned in face to face relation when the roof units are properly assembled and a key type sealing member 2t is provided between these two ridge boards to air seal the joint between these ridge boards and prevent relative displacement of said ridge boards.

Key type sealing members 24 are also provided between the abutting end portions of the upper gable studding plates 18, as shown in Fig. 2.

The Yceiling joist plates 64 support the rafter plates 61'andthese plates 64 and 61 are rigidly interlocked by the tongue and groove means (i5- 66. This effectively prevents outward movement of the rafter plate S1 on the wall plate 64 on which it is supported thus preventing spreading of the eave portions of a'r'oof. These parts thus provide a building structure in which spaced upright walls are tied together by ceiling joists which act as tension means to prevent lateral displacement of the walls and in which rafter plates on inclined rafters are interlocked by tongue and groove means with the wall means so that there can be no spreading ofthe eave portions of a roof.

In the event of a leak in the roof, i. e., through the shingles 88 .of this building7 portions of the sealing means in the roof unit and also other portions of the building, such as the sealing means in the ceiling unit ofthe upper story, might be damaged before the leak could be detected and stopped. This makes it desirable to provide some means for preventing this damage by leakage and some means which will make it possible todetect a leak as soon as it occurs.

.Also when wooden shingles t8 are used for lroofing the building Yit is desirable, in the interest of prolonging the life of these shingles, to provide for air circulation underneath these shingles.

Both of the above stated objects are accomplished-in thislstructure, see Figs..l, 4 and 16, by providing a layer of roong paper 91 between-the `roof sheeting 85 and thev batts 81 and by providing transverse grooves 9S in the b-ottom sides of the batts A81. At the eaves, see Fig. 16, the groove `$36 in the lowermost marginal batt E1, which is preferably wider thanthe other batts 81, preferably `ends or tapers out before it reaches the lowermost edge of this` marginal batt. This provides a water discharge opening 98 beyond the outer surface of an upright trim board 89 that is secured to the eave portion of roof. The roofing paper 91 preferably ends flush with the outer face of this trim board 89. To prevent insects, such as termites, from entering through ,the openings 98, I secure a 4strip of ne mesh'screen`99 The nails used to secure the batts 81 to theroof unit necessarily penetrate the roong paper l 91 but the holes made by these nails in the roofing paper are not objectionable. If a leak develops in the shingles 88 substantially all of the water that leaks through these shingles will run clown along the roofing paper 91 through the grooves 96 and discharge through the openings 98. This water discharging from the openings 98 can be detected by observation or examination and the roof repaired. Also ample circulation of air underneath the shingles is insured.

After' the several air sealed units of the building have been assembled, as hereinbefore described, the building may have external and internal wall forming means and finishing means applied thereto.

On the exterior of the building I have shown shiplap sheeting 85 and lap siding 95. On the roof I have shown shiplap sheeting 85, spaced apart wooden strip or batts 81 and shingles 88.

On the interior, I have shown flooring 44 for both the lower and upper stories and have shown as a Wall and ceiling nish plaster board 90 and plaster 9 I.

Obviously both inside and outside finishes may be varied as desired.

At the locations Where the iloors intersect the walls, I leave open spaces which I iill with Water repellant sealing material 92, after which the usual baseboards 93 and moldings 94 are applied.

To complement the invention herein and obtain the maximum utility thereof, air sealed windows and doors of special construction, not herein disclosed, are preferably provided for all openings.

The panels 29, if made of strong material, such as plywood, provide considerable Strength. Also if plywood is used as the material for the panels 29 the glue between the plies of wood seals the Wood against the passage of air therethrough. The use of synthetic resin glue as a sealing ma'- terial around all possible joints strengthens the entire building structure and economizes in 4the use of nails.

In view of the use of factory made tongue and groove recesses and tenons and the like herein, preferably the various parts are treated at a factory to control dimensions. Synthetic resin sealers are satisfactory for this purpose.

This building, when constructed in the manner hereinbefore described, is air sealed throughout. For this reason it is highly resistant to temperature changes, is moisture proof, dust proof, germ proof, and gas proof as respects poison gases which may be used in warfare. Also it is substantially sound proof and is effectively sealed against all forms of insects including termites.

Also the air sealing of this building greatly simpliies heating, humidifying and air circulation and conditioning problems as it makes it possible to completely control the amount of air that enters and leaves the building and rooms thereof. The air sealing of each room of the building makes possible an accurate control of the temperature and humidity of the air in each room-a thing especially desirable in hospitals, sanitariums and the like.

Obviously, changes may be made in the forms, dimensions and arrangement of the parts of my invention, without departing from the principle thereof, the above setting forth only preferred forms of embodiment.

I claim:

Ina building structure, an exterior wall exposed to the weather; an interior wall positioned in spaced parallel relation to said exterior wall and constituting a wall of a room of the building structure; a plurality of spaced plywood panels, each comprising laminations of wood adhered together, positioned intermediate and in spaced parallel relation to said exterior and interior walls providing air chambers` between said panels and between said panels and said Walls; heat insulation material disposed in the air chambers between said plywood panels and preventing air circulation therein; and marginal frame means adhered to the end portions of said plywood panels and providing an air seal for the edge portions of said air chambers between said plywood panels, whereby the glue lines of the plywood panels and those between the marginal frame means and the end portions of the plywood panelsv substantially completely air seal said air chambers.

GROVER W. GILLELAND. 

